Short-beaked common dolphin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Short-beaked common dolphin |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Delphinus
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| Species: |
delphis
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| Range of short-beaked common dolphin | |
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The short-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) is a super active and colorful dolphin! It's one of two main types in its group, called the genus, Delphinus. You can find these amazing creatures swimming in the warm temperate and tropical parts of the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean. They also love the waters of the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Sea.
Contents
What Does a Short-Beaked Common Dolphin Look Like?
The short-beaked common dolphin is a medium-sized dolphin. It's a bit smaller than its close relative, the long-beaked common dolphin. Adult short-beaked common dolphins usually grow to be about 1.6 to 2 meters (5.2 to 6.6 feet) long. They can weigh between 70 and 235 kilograms (150 to 520 pounds). Interestingly, they are often heavier than the long-beaked common dolphins!
These dolphins have a very unique look. Their back is a dark gray color, and their belly is bright white. The sides of their body have a cool pattern with light gray, gold, or yellow colors. This makes them easy to spot in the ocean!
What Do Short-Beaked Common Dolphins Eat?
Short-beaked common dolphins are great hunters! They love to eat different kinds of fish, such as cod, herrings, sardines, and even flying fish. But fish aren't the only things on their menu. They also enjoy eating octopuses, squids, cuttlefish, and small sea creatures called crustaceans. They use their sharp teeth to catch their prey quickly.
Life Cycle and Reproduction
Female short-beaked common dolphins are pregnant for about 10 to 11 months. After this time, they give birth to a single baby dolphin, called a calf. These newborn calves are quite small, usually 70 to 100 centimeters (2.3 to 3.3 feet) long, and weigh about 10 kilograms (22 pounds).
Male dolphins become adults and can have babies when they are between 3 and 12 years old. Female dolphins mature a bit earlier, usually between 2 and 7 years old. Short-beaked common dolphins can live for a good amount of time, often around 35 years. However, some might only live for about 22 years.
Different Types of Common Dolphins
For a long time, people thought the short-beaked common dolphin was the only type of dolphin in its group, the genus, Delphinus. But scientists later discovered there's another species: the long-beaked common dolphin (Delphinus capensis).
So, what's the difference between them? The short-beaked common dolphin is generally smaller in size. It also has a shorter "beak" or snout compared to the long-beaked common dolphin. This is how scientists tell them apart!
Images for kids
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"Short-beaked" common dolphin, Ireland
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"Long-beaked" common dolphin, California
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Common dolphin, Ireland
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A common dolphin jumping off Morro Bay Nature Reserve
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Common dolphins in the Bay of Gibraltar
See also
In Spanish: Delfín común oceánico para niños
